The Hooding ceremony, scheduled for Cannon Green Monday evening, was interrupted by a thunderstorm just after the advanced-degree candidates gathered on the lawn. The candidates were directed to Whig Hall to receive their hoods, which distinguish the wearer by both degree and academic discipline with their color.

In the Whig Hall Senate Chamber, Dean of the Graduate School William Russel presided over an impromptu ceremony. Guest speaker Sheryl WuDunn — an entrepreneur, best-selling author, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and a 1988 graduate alumna — delivered a motivational and practical speech to the assembled students.

Carol Porter, director of the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning, recognized the Graduate Mentoring Award recipients: Alison Gammie, a senior lecturer in molecular biology; Michael McAlpine, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering; Gideon Rosen, the Stuart Professor of Philosophy; and Viviana Zelizer, the Lloyd Cotsen '50 Professor of Sociology. The Graduate Mentoring Awards recognize Princeton faculty members whose work with graduate students is particularly outstanding.

Dean of the Graduate School William Russel hoods Edmond Choi and Choi's 5-month-old daughter, Stephanie, at a reception at Maclean House after Commencement. Choi earned a Ph.D. in operations research and financial engineering. (Photo by Steve McDonald)

During Commencement, Russel, who is also the Arthur W. Marks '19 Professor of Chemical Engineering, expressed his deep regret for the cancellation of the Hooding ceremony and offered to personally hood students who had missed the opportunity the previous day. After Commencement, Russel met with dozens of students at Maclean House at a reception hosted by the Office of the Alumni Association.

"It was my pleasure to informally hood the graduates both in Whig Hall on Monday and then with their families at the reception today in Maclean House," said Russel. "We planned to salute them on Cannon Green for their dedication and effort in completing their master's and doctoral programs, but Mother Nature had other plans."

The Graduate School also honored five graduate students for excellence in teaching during the APGA Tribute to Teaching Reception on Saturday, June 1. The annual Teaching Award went to Alfredo Garcia of sociology, Jon Husson of geosciences, Danielle Meinrath of classics, Amelia Worsley of English, and Lu Xia of operations research and financial engineering.

Graduate students line up on Cannon Green at the start of the Hooding ceremony Monday. (Photo by Denise Applewhite)

With the start of the rain Monday evening, graduate students move to Whig Hall to receive their hoods, which distinguish advanced-degree recipients by both their degree and discipline. (Photo by Denise Applewhite)

The Hooding guest speaker, entrepreneur, author and Princeton graduate alumna Sheryl WuDunn, delivers her remarks to graduate students in Whig Hall Monday after they received their hoods. (Photo by Denise Applewhite)